Anatomy of Higgs decays into γγ\gamma \gamma and γZ\gamma Z within the EChL in the RξR_\xi gauges

In this work we study the Higgs boson decays into two photons and into one photon and one $Z$ gauge boson within the context of the non-linear Effective Field Theory called the Electroweak Chiral Lagrangian. We present a detailed computation of the corresponding amplitudes to one-loop level in the covariant $R_\xi$ gauges. We assume that the fermionic loop contributions are as in the Standard Model and focus here just in the computation of the bosonic loop contributions. Our renormalization program and the anatomy of the various contributions participating in the $R_\xi$ gauges are fully explored. With this present computation we demonstrate the gauge invariance of the EChL result, not only for the case of on-shell Higgs boson, but also for the most general and interesting case of off-shell Higgs boson. We finally analyse and conclude on the special relevance of the Goldstone boson loops, in good agreement with the expected chiral loops behaviour in Chiral Lagrangians. We perform a systematic comparison with the corresponding computation of the Standard Model in the $R_\xi$ gauges and with the previous EChL results in the unitary gauge. This work represents the first computation within the EChL of these Higgs observables to one-loop in the most general $R_\xi$ gauges and with a full renormalization program description, not yet fully explored in the previous literature and which is different to the most frequently used in the linear Effective Field Theory (SMEFT).Comment: 44 pages, 10 figures. Minor corrections to typos detected and added new references respect to the version

Experimental and analytical study of cracks under biaxial fatigue

Most mechanical components experience multi-axial cyclic loading conditions during service. Experimental analysis of fatigue cracks under such conditions is not easy and most works tend to focus more on the simpler but less realistic case of uni-axial loading. Consequently, there are many uncertainties related to the load sequence effect that are now well known and are not normally incorporated into the growth models. The current work presents a new methodology for evaluating overload effect in biaxial fatigue cracks. The methodology includes evaluation of mixed-mode (KI and KII) stress intensity factor and the Crack Opening Displacement for samples with and without overload cycle under biaxial loading. The methodology is tested under a range of crack lengths. All crack-tip information is obtained with a hybrid methodology that combines experimental full-field digital image correlation data and Williams' elastic model describing the crack-tip field.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Development of a metric of aquatic invertebrates for volunteers (MAIV): a simple and friendly biotic metric to assess ecological quality of streams

Citizen science activities, involving local people in volunteer-supported and sustainable monitoring programs, are common. In this context, the objective of the present work was to develop a simple Metric of Aquatic Invertebrates for Volunteers (MAIV), including a user-friendly tool that can be easily accessed by volunteers, and to evaluate the e ciency of a volunteer monitoring program following an audit procedure. To obtain MAIV values, macroinvertebrate communities were reduced to 18 surrogate taxa, which represented an acceptable compromise between simplicity, e ciency, and reproducibility of the data, compared to the regular Water Framework Directive monitoring. When compared to results obtained with the National Classification System of Portugal, MAIV accurately detected moderate, poor, and bad ecological status. Thus, MAIV can be used by volunteers as a complement to the o cial monitoring program, as well as a prospective early warning tool for local problems related to ecological quality. Volunteers were students supervised by their teachers. Results obtained by volunteers were compared to results obtained by experts on macroinvertebrate identification to measure the e ciency of the procedure, by counting gains and losses on sorting, and identification. Characteristics of groups of volunteers (age and school level) did not influence significantly the e ciency of the procedure, and generally results of volunteers and experts matched.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

ESTRUTURA, FUNCIONAMENTO E GESTÃO DE RIOS TEMPORÁRIOS: PROJETO SMIRES Morais

Os rios temporários são linhas de água que apresentam interrupção do caudal superficial e por vezes secam. Estes sistemas cobrem mais de 50% da rede hidrográfica global, encontrando-se em expansão devido aos efeitos das alterações globais. Os rios temporários são ecossistemas aquáticos-terrestres muito dinâmicos, caracterizados por apresentarem uma elevada biodiversidade. Apesar da sua representatividade global, ainda existe muito que aprender sobre a sua ocorrência, hidrologia, biogeoquímica, ecologia, perceção social e valor económico. O conhecimento limitado sobre a estrutura e funcionamento destes sistemas condiciona a implementação de uma gestão efetiva, permanecendo frequentemente fora das legislações nacionais e europeias. O SMIRES (Science and Management of Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams) é uma ação COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology), que tem como objetivo principal implementar trabalho em rede, para gerar conhecimento sintetizado sobre o funcionamento destes sistemas que promova a sua gestão eficaz. O SMIRES inclui no seu conjunto mais de 200 membros entre académicos, gestores de água, jovens investigadores e cientistas, provenientes de 31 países da Europa e para além desta. Os membros SMIRES partilham diversas experiências e competências fortalecendo-se o desenvolvimento de novas, e por vezes inesperadas, soluções interdisciplinares que contribuam para o avanço do conhecimento científico destes sistemas nas suas diferentes componentes. O SMIRES está organizado em 4 grupos de trabalho que estudam respetivamente: (I) a hidrologia; (II) os serviços de ecossistemas; (III) a biogeoquímica; (IV) a ecologia dos rios temporários. Integra ainda um fórum de jovens investigadores e um comité de atores sociais. Através destes grupos partilha-se competências com o objetivo global de sintetizar o conhecimento nacional e internacional sobre os Rios Temporários e desenvolver ferramentas e orientações para promover uma gestão eficiente. No âmbito da rede COST SMIRES, Portugal está a desenvolver um pequeno projeto em 18 massas de água, situadas em rios temporários de características mediterrânicas, que tem como objetivo principal estudar a evolução temporal das comunidades de diatomáceas, macroinvertebrados bentónicos e carabídeos, com especial ênfase na estrutura das comunidades antes, durante e após a interrupção do caudal. Pretende-se perceber mecanismos de resistência e o processo de recolonização após o período de interrupção do caudal, para propor ferramentas para a avaliação da qualidade ecológica, adaptados às particularidades funcionais destes sistemas. Neste âmbito serão apresentados os resultados preliminares no que diz respeito à caracterização das comunidades e descrição de habitats.Science and Management of Intermittent Rivers and Ephemeral Streams (SMIRES) COST Action (CA15113

Fast and accurate methodology for direct mercury determination in hair and nails

A solvent-free, easy, fast and waste-free methodology was developed for the determination of total mercury levels in hair and nails. Samples were taken from several volunteers and directly analysed, with levels of mercury in the range between 0.5 and 8 ng/mg. The influence of quantity of hair, as well as the addition of small amount of solvent and the necessity of previous treatment were studied. Also, a history of mercury exposure was provided by the distance of the hair from the scalp of each volunteer, the results of which were correlated with fish consumption. Furthermore, a short study of mercury in nails was carried out and correlated to the results from hair mercury levels. A small quantity of 5 mg of hair with an addition of 50 μL of water to the sample without previous treatment was adequate to get a representative result in less than 10 minutes. The accuracy of the proposed method was confirmed by analysing certified reference materials including Coal Fly Ash-NIST SRM 1633b, Fucus-IAEA 140 and three unpolished Rice Flour NIES-10. The observed results were found to be in good agreement with the certified values

Dynamic simulations in SixTrack

The DYNK module allows element settings in SixTrack to be changed on a turn-by-turn basis. This document contains a technical description of the DYNK module in SixTrack. It is mainly intended for a developer or advanced user who wants to modify the DYNK module, for example by adding more functions that can be used to calculate new element settings, or to add support for new elements that can be used with DYNK.Comment: Submission to CERN yellow report / conference proceeding, the 2015 collimation tracking code worksho

Image Management in a Touristic Destination: A Qualitative Approach Analysis of the Border City of Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

This paper summarizes an academic experience. It has been made by the contributions of a group of experts from a Mexican university participating in a discussion panel called "Image of a Touristic Destination". This was done within the framework of the activities carried out during the 8va. Catedra Patrimonial "Sergio Molina" on October 19-21, 2016. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the process of image management of a border touristic destination through the experience of Ciudad Juárez, in order to obtain an improvement in it. The concept of image is analyzed from its components of responsibility and participation in management between Government (message), Society (context), and Universities (management). The methodological approach selected was exploratory. The grounded theory method was selected and thematic analysis with the support of the Atlas-ti software was made. Suggestions are offered for actions which seek to highlight the positive aspects of the city as a touristic destination. The importance of generating responsibility and participation within a social network was highlighted. It was recommended to take advantage of the economic and intellectual resources in education of the Juarez society so that they can know their culture and history

Haemoglobin levels for population from Gambo, a rural area of Ethiopia, and their association with anaemia and malaria

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of appropriate reference intervals is critical not only to provide optimal clinical care, but also to enrol populations in medical research. The aim of this study was to generate normal ranges of laboratory values for haemoglobin among healthy Ethiopian adults and children and to determine if anaemia is a possible indicator of malaria in women and children in this area of Ethiopia. METHODS: This study was carried out from January 2008 to May 2010. The reference sample population with malaria-negative consisted of 454 individuals, divided women, men and children. The malaria-infected sample population consisted of 117 individuals. The reference ranges were based on the guidelines from the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Haemoglobin concentration was determined by Hemo-Control EKF Diagnostic Analyser on whole blood. Testing for malaria-positive and negative infection was done by microscopy and by PCR. RESULTS: The lower limits for adult haemoglobin range obtained from this population were slightly higher than those derived from other African populations, but were equal to those established by other studies in Ethiopia and the World Health Organization (WHO). Regarding children, the minimum values were lower than those obtained from different African populations and those established by WHO. The malaria-negative group had anaemia in 35.6% of cases and in the malaria-positive group in 70.9%. There was a stronger, statistically significant association between anaemia and malaria-positive samples than between anaemia and malaria-negative samples in women and both groups of children. CONCLUSIONS: The results from this study are a contribution in the definition of the haemoglobin parameters in African populations, which could be taken as standards for interpretation of laboratory results. The haemoglobin indices in adults from Gambo tended to be higher than other African populations and in children were lower than other studies in Africa. The results also suggest that anaemia is not useful as a supportive diagnostic criterion to monitor and evaluate malaria in women and children from Ethiopia, because a 29.1% of malaria cases will be not detected, because of not having anaemia